Cardiff City correspondent Terry Phillips looks at the centre-half conundrum taxing the mind of Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay as the Premier League kick off looms closer

Who will partner Steven Caulker at the heart of Cardiff City's defence?

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Three into two doesn’t go – and that could spell bad news for Cardiff City captain Mark Hudson.

With record £8.5m signing Steven Caulker on board it will be an anxious moment for Hudson and Ben Turner when Bluebirds boss Malky Mackay names his side to take on Athletic Bilbao tomorrow (3pm).

For that is the moment when Mackay’s thinking for the Premier League opener at West Ham in eight days’ time will be revealed.

It’s inconceivable that the England-capped Caulker will be denied his first start after appearing as a substitute on the hour-mark against Chievo Verona last weekend.

So it comes down to Hudson or Turner who will partner him against the La Liga visitors – and almost certainly at Upton Park as well.

A strong case can be made for either man to slot in alongside Caulker but I expect Turner to get the nod in east London.

The 6ft 4ins left-sided Turner looks a natural fit alongside the right-footed Caulker and the balance between the two might be the preferred option as City seek to start life in the Premier League with a clean sheet.

Like Caulker, he might be right-sided but what he brings is authority and a trust that he will respond when the going gets tough.

It’s a combination that, as a former centre-back, Mackay has an understanding of and knows he needs to get right – and that’s why he has been trying out different pairings on the training ground.

Cardiff City captain Mark Hudson

Matt Connolly is another contender and he has Premier League experience to back up his claim, but he might be seen more as cover right now for both centre-back and right-back positions.

Another defensive dilemma for Mackay is who lines up at left-back with Andrew Taylor sitting out the opening day after his red card at Hull in the Championship climax.

Declan John, a Wales Under-17 cap from Merthyr, and the experienced Simon Lappin are both in the frame.

Taylor’s loss is a blow considering his consistency last season when he was quite possibly one of the first names on Mackay’s team-sheet. But don’t discount Lappin’s tenacity or even John’s sudden elevation into the first-team picture at the Cardiff City Stadium.

John has emerged as a real contender after an effective 90 minutes during the 1-0 victory over Chievo.

The 18-year-old has been switched from winger to full-back and the move has been a resounding success.

Mackay has made it clear age is not a factor when it comes to first-team selection, saying: “I have high hopes for Declan.

“But for the consistency of Andrew Taylor he would have spent a bit more time with the first team last season in terms of getting on the pitch.

“Declan would have played 30 or 40 matches in a lower league by now if he wasn’t at Cardiff. He looked confident and comfortable in his position against Chievo.

Declan John

“I’m not holding back people when they reach a certain level and he’s reached that level – and Declan is part of my first-team squad now.”

So it’s Turner and John in the back-five for me with new boys Caulker and John Brayford and solid Scottish custodian David Marshall in goal. If that’s a very much new-look defence, there’s a more familiar feel in midfield.

Aron Gunnarson has been given the all-clear to feature for the first time this season and looks likely to link up with Peter Whittingham and Kim Bo-kyung tomorrow. Jordon Mutch is doubtful with a groin strain and French target Etienne Capoue appears bound for Tottenham Hotspur.

City have agreed a £9.6m fee with Toulouse for Capoue’s signature and personal terms have been negotiated, but the players seems destined for North London rather than South Wales.

This setback, however, certainly won’t stop Mackay from strengthening his midfield competition and he is already moving closer to other targets.

But against Bilbao it looks like a central mix of Gunnarsson, Whittingham and Kim, the South Korean who has scored three goals and been in outstanding form during pre-season.

Playmaker Whittingham struggled to earn a regular starting place towards the end of last season as Cardiff swept to the Championship title.

But he has played more first team pre-season football than any other player in Mackay’s squad.

Whittingham has played almost 300 minutes against Forest Green, Cheltenham, Brentford and Chievo, twice completing the full 90.

And Mackay says Whittingham, who has signed three new contracts over the last two seasons, will be given the chance to prove his Premier League credentials.

“He is a massive part of my plans,” said Mackay.

“He’s an intelligent lad and knows where he needs to improve.

“Whitts came back for the start of pre-season in great shape. Just like everybody he is facing a challenge – and he is rising to that challenge.

“We had a chat at the end of last season and it’s about him meeting the new test of playing at a level he has wanted to play at for six years now.

“He has been desperate to go to that next level and now he has that chance.”

“It’s about consistency of performances and working to gain that consistency.

“There was a point last season when he was outstanding and then a point where he knew he was going a bit stale.

“We had to freshen things up but there is no question Peter is a massive part of my plans.

“I have no doubt he will play a hugely important role for us over the coming season.”

Mutch (groin) will be joined on the sidelines by strikers Andreas Cornelius (ankle) and Joe Mason (hamstring) for Bilbao’s visit, but Craig Bellamy has recovered from the illness which forced out of the Chievo win.